Heard a few handy tips etc, and seen a few of the plastic hooks, but what do the STW collective recommend for safe and Lyme Disease free tick removal?
Bike Forum
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Tick removers....what do you use?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I got the plastic hooks from the VET, they work really well.
O'Tom they are called
Posted 2 years ago # -
Posted 2 years ago #
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I've always burnt 'em with a fag
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tj, I dont think your supposed to. plus, how can you carry a fruity-fella around on a ride with you, isnt it inpractical?
Posted 2 years ago # -
hora:Tj, I dont think your supposed to. plus, how can you carry a gayman around on a ride with you, isnt it inpractical?
I see you went for the point of least resistance there hora.
Posted 2 years ago # -
You're supposed to unscrew anticlockwise, count to 5 and lob into the trench full of Germans aren't you? Or am I confusing myself?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cheers all. I'll take a punt on the O'Tom Tick remover...sounds more practical than taking up smoking or changing sexual orientation
Posted 2 years ago # -
Where is everyone getting these ticks from?? Has biking suddenly become contagious??
Posted 2 years ago # -
Plastic Hook thing, works first time every time and quick to (think its painless to, well the cat does not cry)
Posted 2 years ago # -
just pull it out with a pair of tweezers, make sure you get the head out.
Posted 2 years ago # -
You're supposed to unscrew anticlockwise, count to 5 and lob into the trench full of Germans aren't you? Or am I confusing myself?
No no, think youre on the mark there.
Never had a problem with ticks myself, where do you find them?
Posted 2 years ago # -
more votes for the O'Tom thing here, carried in all our first aid kits, used at least once a week, always work - but will be trying the circle it method - looks great
Posted 2 years ago # -
Used to use tweezers and unwind, but you tend to squeeze them which is bad. Got twizzlers from pets-r-us now. Ticks have spiral mouth parts dontchknow.
They crawl on-board while you're standing around gassing instead getting on with some cycling
Posted 2 years ago # -
Where are these little buggers prone to hanging out?? Dont think i've come across any in Yorkshire!!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
you mean your local farmers/youth don't burn off all the bracken and cover for you? They keep the tick numbers down around here
Posted 2 years ago # -
How do you know if you pick one up?? Symptoms??
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tick lasso
I've been carrying one of these in my camelbak for ages but fortunately haven't needed to use it yet. Maybe I'll get the chance after the Exmoor Safari this weekend!Posted 2 years ago # -
zombification Doog
Posted 2 years ago # -
Zombification? I def wont notice if i get one then. I presume they're prone to lower leg attacks then??
Posted 2 years ago # -
Lube them up with some petroleum Jelly
you'll thank me for it. They can't hold on.
Posted 2 years ago # -
hello
nice to see a post like this - i have mentioned ticks a few times of late on here - me + the lady + the collie bike hound have had a shed load of ticks this year - picked up in the lakes / N wales and S wales in brecon and worst of all somerset - cheddar / Qs / and esp exmoor... up to about 15 - 20 removed so far with either a serious dissection kit or now a Tom O twister - they rock they do....
Suggest you all carry one in your med kit. I found it a great way to get the feckers off - its ace seeing their wee scrawny body stuck in the V of the tool with their legs waggling before I then kill them either by bashing the hell out of them or now ( more enlightened way ) by bagging them up and dating the bag and then in the freezer in case you need to get the tick tested...
be safe out there
paul
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think i need someone to post a pic of an attacking tick!!! I fear i'm becoming paranoid about them!!! I may never ride again.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think i need someone to post a pic of an attacking tick!!! I fear i'm becoming paranoid about them!!! I may never ride again.
A Tick that attacked my belly button last summer!!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Nice, i consider myself armed with knowledge. Woe betide the crawly little **** that tries dining on me, tho i've not heard tell of any attacking in the calderdale area, border patrol must be doing its job.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Petrolium jelly - stops them breathing and they'll crawl out on their own.
Has worked for me many times. And sometimes to get ticks out too!Posted 2 years ago # -
I am a little confused about the OP. You said something like "Lyme Disease free tick removal". How do you know they are free of disease? Or do you think that if you remove them in a certain way you will not be infected?
From what I understand once bitten by an infected tick (and there are an increasing number unfortunately) then medication should be taken once symptoms are spotted, and these do not always show themselves!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Forgot to say that the method you use to remove them only reduces the risk of secondary infection around the bite wound.
Posted 2 years ago # -
"bagging them up and dating the bag and then in the freezer"
Oooh I've never kept them, should I? My GF might object to keeping bags of dead ticks in the freezer.
Someone put a really informative thread up on the old forum about this topic.
Lymes Disease symptoms are widely described on the Internet. You might get a dull red ring around the bite area that might expand before fading. You might develop mild flu-like symptoms after a couple of weeks. Long-term symptoms include death.
On the plus side, it's hard to get accurate figures about the infection rate from bites, but it seems only a fraction of ticks are carriers and only a fraction of those transmit it.
Transmission is thought to most likely if it spews it's guts up during removal, or if it's abdomen is full expanded with your blood and it blows-back. Removing the tick without overly stressing it is reckoned to be the best way of avoiding disease transmission.
That's why the twizzlers are thought to be good, because they slot over the thorax and quickly unwind the mouth-part without putting pressure on the abdomen or overly stressing the critter.
Posted 2 years ago # -
buzz-lightyear - Member
Lymes Disease symptoms are widely described on the Internet. You might get a dull red ring around the bite area that might expand before fading. You might develop mild flu-like symptoms after a couple of weeks. Long-term symptoms include death.
Long term as in 60 years or so, I hope?
Strangely enough I posted on this thread yesterday having completely forgotten that I picked a tick off myself last week, probably only the 3rd or 4th I've ever had.
Posted 2 years ago # -
fauxbyfour - Member
I am a little confused about the OP. You said something like "Lyme Disease free tick removal". How do you know they are free of disease? Or do you think that if you remove them in a certain way you will not be infected?
From what I understand once bitten by an infected tick (and there are an increasing number unfortunately) then medication should be taken once symptoms are spotted, and these do not always show themselves!
My understanding is that the special ingredient is carried within the ticks stomach and that incorrect removal can result in the little bugger regurgitating the stomachs contents into the bite. Safe removal is supposed to lessen the risk of this.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Oh - and the UK Govt has just responded to an epetition to say that all the current clinical guidelines and procedures are just fine, thanks.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Off to Exmoor next w/e and it's a tick hotspot so have purchased some of those O'Tom hooks.
Got mine from here -> http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/shop/index.htm
£4.99 posted.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I had one on my left testical a couple of years ago - it was drivin me nuts...
true story
Posted 2 years ago # -
A mate of mine had one on his eyelid!
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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